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A guide to musical theater in fall, winter
Two shows set in France kick off season of performances
By Korea HeraldPublished : Oct. 13, 2014 - 20:36
Seoul’s musical theaters, scattered across the city, are offering a wide spectrum of shows this season.
From a gay-themed show getting its first off-Broadway run in Korea to a set of original Korean works based on gugak, traditional Korean music, here’s a look into some of the most anticipated musicals of the fall-winter season.
‘Marie Antoinette’
The EMK Musical Company, which started the European musical boom in Seoul, is presenting in November its most ambitious production this year ― “Marie Antoinette.”
The show is one of the latest works of composer Sylvester Levay and lyricist Michael Kunze, a duo that has proven their ticket power here with previous works “Elisabeth,” “Mozart!” and “Rebecca.”
The show tells the story of two parallel lives; that of the infamous queen of France and that of Margrid Arnaud, a poor woman, during the turbulent days of the French Revolution.
Idol singer-turned-musical actress Ock Joo-hyun will play Marie Antoinette.
“Marie Antoinette” raises its curtain on Nov. 1 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil. For details, call (02) 6391-6333.
‘Notre-Dame de Paris’
The original French production of the famous musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” will be staged in Korea, marking the 10th anniversary of the show’s Korean premiere in 2006.
Based on French writer Victor Hugo’s popular novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” the musical tells of Quasimodo, a deformed hunchback who dwells within Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and falls deeply in love with a beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda.
Starting in Daegu in December, it will tour multiple cities for three months. It will come to Seoul’s Sejong Center for Performing Arts on Jan. 15, 2015.
For details, call (02) 749-9037.
‘Kinky Boots’
A Broadway musical that bagged six Tony Awards last year is having its first off-Broadway run in Seoul in December.
A collaboration between Broadway producers and Korea’s big-spending culture conglomerate CJ E&M, the show is based on the 2005 film of the same title, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.
It tells of a struggling British shoe factory’s young, straitlaced owner, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business.
The Korean rendition of “Kinky Boots” opens on Dec. 5 at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul. For details, call (02) 2230-6600.
‘Once’
Another Korean premiere of a Broadway hit, “Once” is one of the most anticipated shows this season.
Based on a 2006 film of the same title, the original musical won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including the trophy for the year’s Best Musical.
For its Korean version, veteran rocker Yoon Do-hyun has been cast for the lead role. He will play Guy, an Irish street musician and vacuum cleaner repairman who falls in love with Girl, a Czech flower seller.
Yoon will rotate with musical actor Lee Chang-hee for the role, and emerging musical actresses Jeon Mi-do and Park Ji-yeon play Girl.
“Once” will run from Dec. 14 through March 29 at the 1,000-seat CJ Towol Theater in Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.
Gugak musicals
Several Korean producers, trying to incorporate elements of Korean tradition into the Western-style productions, have created some refreshing shows. Three such works will be staged as part of the “Creative Gugak Musical Festival,” which runs from Oct. 10 to Nov. 9.
The festival kicks off with the “pansori” (Korean traditional opera) musical “Dream of Chickens, Flying” from Oct. 10-19.
“Unhyeon Palace Romance 2: Story of Chae-seon” is second in the lineup of the festival, focusing on the story of Heungseon Daewongun, prince regent during the Joseon era (1392-1910), and the first female pansori singer Jin Chae-seon, the woman he loved.
From a gay-themed show getting its first off-Broadway run in Korea to a set of original Korean works based on gugak, traditional Korean music, here’s a look into some of the most anticipated musicals of the fall-winter season.
‘Marie Antoinette’
The EMK Musical Company, which started the European musical boom in Seoul, is presenting in November its most ambitious production this year ― “Marie Antoinette.”
The show is one of the latest works of composer Sylvester Levay and lyricist Michael Kunze, a duo that has proven their ticket power here with previous works “Elisabeth,” “Mozart!” and “Rebecca.”
The show tells the story of two parallel lives; that of the infamous queen of France and that of Margrid Arnaud, a poor woman, during the turbulent days of the French Revolution.
Idol singer-turned-musical actress Ock Joo-hyun will play Marie Antoinette.
“Marie Antoinette” raises its curtain on Nov. 1 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil. For details, call (02) 6391-6333.
‘Notre-Dame de Paris’
The original French production of the famous musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” will be staged in Korea, marking the 10th anniversary of the show’s Korean premiere in 2006.
Based on French writer Victor Hugo’s popular novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame,” the musical tells of Quasimodo, a deformed hunchback who dwells within Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and falls deeply in love with a beautiful gypsy dancer, Esmeralda.
Starting in Daegu in December, it will tour multiple cities for three months. It will come to Seoul’s Sejong Center for Performing Arts on Jan. 15, 2015.
For details, call (02) 749-9037.
‘Kinky Boots’
A Broadway musical that bagged six Tony Awards last year is having its first off-Broadway run in Seoul in December.
A collaboration between Broadway producers and Korea’s big-spending culture conglomerate CJ E&M, the show is based on the 2005 film of the same title, with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper.
It tells of a struggling British shoe factory’s young, straitlaced owner, Charlie, who forms an unlikely partnership with Lola, a drag queen, to save the business.
The Korean rendition of “Kinky Boots” opens on Dec. 5 at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul. For details, call (02) 2230-6600.
‘Once’
Another Korean premiere of a Broadway hit, “Once” is one of the most anticipated shows this season.
Based on a 2006 film of the same title, the original musical won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including the trophy for the year’s Best Musical.
For its Korean version, veteran rocker Yoon Do-hyun has been cast for the lead role. He will play Guy, an Irish street musician and vacuum cleaner repairman who falls in love with Girl, a Czech flower seller.
Yoon will rotate with musical actor Lee Chang-hee for the role, and emerging musical actresses Jeon Mi-do and Park Ji-yeon play Girl.
“Once” will run from Dec. 14 through March 29 at the 1,000-seat CJ Towol Theater in Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 60,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.
Gugak musicals
Several Korean producers, trying to incorporate elements of Korean tradition into the Western-style productions, have created some refreshing shows. Three such works will be staged as part of the “Creative Gugak Musical Festival,” which runs from Oct. 10 to Nov. 9.
The festival kicks off with the “pansori” (Korean traditional opera) musical “Dream of Chickens, Flying” from Oct. 10-19.
“Unhyeon Palace Romance 2: Story of Chae-seon” is second in the lineup of the festival, focusing on the story of Heungseon Daewongun, prince regent during the Joseon era (1392-1910), and the first female pansori singer Jin Chae-seon, the woman he loved.
The last musical of the festival is “Jester’s Song,” which will be staged from Nov. 7-9, centering on the story of the Korean legendary fire phoenix Bonghwang.
All three musicals will be staged at the Guro Arts Valley Theater. For more information about the festival, call 070-7730-0406.
By Lee Sun-young & Ahn Sung-mi
(milaya@heraldcorp.com) (sahn@heraldcorp.com)
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Articles by Korea Herald
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